Quick Facts
- Where — off Sugarloaf Road, south of Cape Naturaliste and a short drive from Dunsborough
- Cost — free; there is no national park entry fee at this access point
- Time needed — 20 to 40 minutes for the lookout, longer if you walk a section of the Cape to Cape Track
- Best time — late afternoon into sunset, when the rock is lit from the west
- Swimming — no. There is no beach and the water below the lookout is dangerous
Sugarloaf Rock is a lump of granite sitting a short way off the coast at the northern end of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, and it is probably the most photographed rock in the South West. The appeal is straightforward: the coastline here faces west, the rock sits just far enough offshore to catch the light on its own, and the swell breaking around its base gives every photograph a moving part.
It is an easy stop. A sealed road runs out to a car park, and a short walk on a made path brings you to the viewing platform. You do not need to be fit and you do not need much time, which is why it works so well as a late-afternoon addition to a day spent somewhere else.
The Tropicbirds
The rock is a breeding site for red-tailed tropicbirds — a seabird more associated with the tropics than with the cool water off south western Australia, and this is one of the most southerly places they nest. They are white, with a long red tail streamer, and they wheel around the rock through the warmer months. Bring binoculars if you have them. Nesting seabirds are easily disturbed, which is one of several reasons the rock itself is off limits.
Stay on the platform
People do scramble down towards the water here, and it is a bad idea. The granite is slick, the swell surges without warning across the lower rocks, and there is no easy way back out. Stay on the built path and the viewing platform.
Walking From Here
Sugarloaf Rock sits on the Cape to Cape Track, which runs the length of this coastline between the two lighthouses. The section north to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is one of the more accessible stretches and can be done as an out-and-back from either end. Heading south the track continues towards Yallingup along clifftop and beach.
When to Go
Late afternoon, for the light. The car park is small and fills up in the hour before sunset over summer and school holidays, so arrive with time to spare. Spring brings wildflowers along the heath beside the track, and the whale migration is visible from this coast through late winter and spring — the elevation at the lookout makes it a reasonable place to scan for spouts. It is exposed up here, so a wind jacket is worth having in the car whatever the forecast said.
More of the coast and the capes
Lighthouses, granite headlands, caves and forest, all within an easy drive.
Nature, Caves & ForestsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Sugarloaf Rock free to visit?
Yes. The car park and the lookout are free and there is no national park entry fee at this access point. The gate on Sugarloaf Road can close outside daylight hours, so check the signage if you are planning to stay for sunset.
Can you walk out to Sugarloaf Rock?
No. The rock is a granite island separated from the shore by open water, and it is a seabird breeding site. Access is from the viewing platform on the mainland only, and scrambling down towards the water below it is dangerous.
What birds nest on Sugarloaf Rock?
Red-tailed tropicbirds breed on the rock, making this one of the most southerly nesting sites for the species. They are most visible through the warmer months, and binoculars help.
How long does a visit take?
Twenty to forty minutes covers the car park, the path and the viewing platform. Allow longer if you want to walk a section of the Cape to Cape Track, which passes through here.
When is the best time to photograph Sugarloaf Rock?
Late afternoon into sunset, when the west-facing coastline puts the light behind the rock. The car park is small, so arrive early in summer and over school holidays.
Can you swim at Sugarloaf Rock?
No. There is no beach, the granite is slippery and the swell surges unpredictably across the lower rocks. For swimming, Meelup Beach and the sheltered bays around Dunsborough are a short drive away.